diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/NewBookingPage.tsx b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/NewBookingPage.tsx
index 49d233167..da777d491 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/NewBookingPage.tsx
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/NewBookingPage.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
+import { useMutation, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { zodResolver } from "@hookform/resolvers/zod";
 import { useForm } from "react-hook-form";
 import { useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";
 import { CheckCircle2, ChevronLeft, ChevronRight } from "lucide-react";
 import { Button } from "@edr/ui-common";
 import Breadcrumbs from "@/components/Breadcrumbs";
-import { addBooking } from "./bookings.mock";
 import { getCurrentCustomer } from "@/lib/currentCustomer";
 import { api } from "@/services/api";
 import type { CreateBookingPayload } from "@/services/bookings.service";
@@ -33,10 +33,18 @@ import {
 
 export default function NewBookingPage() {
   const navigate = useNavigate();
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const [step, setStep] = useState(1);
   const [renewalValidating, setRenewalValidating] = useState(false);
   const [renewalValid, setRenewalValid] = useState<boolean | null>(null);
-  const [submitted, setSubmitted] = useState(false);
+  const createMutation = useMutation({
+    mutationFn: (payload: CreateBookingPayload) =>
+      api.bookings.create.call(payload),
+    onSuccess: (booking) => {
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: api.bookings.list.queryKey() });
+      setTimeout(() => navigate(`/bookings/${booking.id}`), 2500);
+    },
+  });
 
   const form = useForm<BookingFormValues>({
     defaultValues: initialBookingFormValues,
@@ -48,8 +56,6 @@ export default function NewBookingPage() {
   const destinationYard = form.watch("destinationYard");
   const containers = form.watch("containers");
   const previousContractRef = form.watch("previousContractRef");
-  const contractId =
-    form.watch("draftContractId") || form.watch("previousContractRef");
 
   const direction = useMemo(
     () => getRouteDirection(originYard, destinationYard),
@@ -113,7 +119,7 @@ export default function NewBookingPage() {
     setStep((currentStep) => Math.min(STEPS.length, currentStep + 1));
   }
 
-  function handleSubmit(data: BookingFormValues) {
+  const handleSubmit = form.handleSubmit((data) => {
     if (data.contractType === "renewal" && renewalValid !== true) {
       form.setError("previousContractRef", {
         type: "manual",
@@ -124,15 +130,7 @@ export default function NewBookingPage() {
     }
 
     const me = getCurrentCustomer();
-    const reference =
-      data.draftContractId ||
-      data.previousContractRef ||
-      `EDR-DRAFT-${Date.now()}`;
-
-    const qtyCount =
-      data.cargoType === "container"
-        ? data.containers.reduce((acc, c) => acc + Number(c.qty || 0), 0)
-        : 1;
+    const reference = data.previousContractRef;
 
     const totalWeight =
       data.cargoType === "container"
@@ -142,48 +140,13 @@ export default function NewBookingPage() {
         )
         : Number(data.cargoWeight || 0);
 
-    const description =
-      data.cargoType === "container"
-        ? data.containers.map((c) => `${c.qty} × ${c.type}`).join(", ")
-        : data.freightType === "bulk"
-          ? `Bulk - ${data.bulkCommodity === "Others" ? data.bulkCommodityOther : data.bulkCommodity}`
-          : `Break-Bulk - ${data.breakBulkType === "Others" ? data.breakBulkTypeOther : data.breakBulkType}`;
-
-    const newBooking = {
-      id: Date.now(),
-      reference,
-      customerId: me.id,
-      customer: me.company,
-      cargoType: (data.cargoType === "container"
-        ? "Containerized"
-        : "Bulk") as any,
-      originStation: data.originYard,
-      destinationStation: data.destinationYard,
-      transportMode: (data.serviceType === "rail"
-        ? "Rail"
-        : "Multimodal") as any,
-      containerType: (data.cargoType === "container" &&
-        data.containers[0]?.type === "40ft"
-        ? "40FT"
-        : "20FT") as any,
-      containerCount: qtyCount,
-      weightTons: totalWeight,
-      requestedDate: new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 10),
-      priority: (data.isHazardous ? "High" : "Normal") as any,
-      cargoDescription: description,
-      specialInstructions: data.notes || "Standard handling required",
-      status: "Pending" as any,
-    };
-
-    addBooking(newBooking);
-
-    // Call API using api.bookings.create.call
     const apiPayload = {
       reference,
       customerId: String(me.id),
       scheduledDate: new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 10),
       totalAmount: 0,
-      contractType: data.contractType.toUpperCase(),
+      contractType:
+        data.contractType.toUpperCase() as CreateBookingPayload["contractType"],
       previousContractId: data.previousContractRef || undefined,
       serviceType:
         data.serviceType === "rail" ? "RAIL_ONLY" : "RAIL_AND_FORWARDING",
@@ -197,8 +160,8 @@ export default function NewBookingPage() {
         : undefined,
       equipmentReturn:
         data.equipmentReturn === "with_return"
-          ? "WITH_RETURN"
-          : "WITHOUT_RETURN",
+          ? ("WITH_RETURN" as const)
+          : ("WITHOUT_RETURN" as const),
       originStation: data.originYard,
       destinationStation: data.destinationYard,
       cargoTotalWeightVgm: totalWeight,
@@ -220,31 +183,18 @@ export default function NewBookingPage() {
       ...(data.cargoType === "container" && data.containers.length > 0
         ? {
           containers: data.containers.map((c) => ({
-            type: c.type === "40ft" ? "40FT" as const : "20FT" as const,
+            type: c.type === "40ft" ? ("40FT" as const) : ("20FT" as const),
             qty: Number(c.qty || 1),
             vgm: Number(c.vgm || 0),
           })),
         }
         : {}),
-    };
+    } satisfies CreateBookingPayload;
 
-    api.bookings.create
-      .call(apiPayload as CreateBookingPayload)
-      .then((created) => {
-        console.log("Successfully created booking via API:", created);
-      })
-      .catch((err) => {
-        console.warn(
-          "API call failed (expected if API server is offline), falling back to mock storage:",
-          err,
-        );
-      });
+    createMutation.mutate(apiPayload);
+  });
 
-    setSubmitted(true);
-    setTimeout(() => navigate("/bookings"), 2500);
-  }
-
-  if (submitted) {
+  if (createMutation.isSuccess && createMutation.data) {
     return (
       <div className="flex min-h-screen items-center justify-center p-6">
         <div className="w-full max-w-sm rounded-2xl border border-border bg-card p-10 text-center shadow-sm">
@@ -257,7 +207,7 @@ export default function NewBookingPage() {
             notified once approved.
           </p>
           <p className="mt-4 font-mono text-sm font-semibold text-primary">
-            {contractId}
+            {createMutation.data.reference}
           </p>
         </div>
       </div>
@@ -268,7 +218,7 @@ export default function NewBookingPage() {
     <form
       id="new-booking-form"
       className="flex flex-col"
-      onSubmit={form.handleSubmit(handleSubmit)}
+      onSubmit={handleSubmit}
     >
       <div className="sticky top-0 z-20 border-b border-border bg-background">
         <div className="mx-auto max-w-4xl space-y-3 px-6 py-3">
diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/new-booking-form/schema.ts b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/new-booking-form/schema.ts
index 1549606ed..2a34eb843 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/new-booking-form/schema.ts
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/new-booking-form/schema.ts
@@ -151,7 +151,6 @@ export const bookingFormSchema = z
   .object({
     contractType: z.enum(["new", "renewal"], "Select a contract type."),
     previousContractRef: z.string(),
-    draftContractId: z.string(),
     serviceType: z.enum(["rail", "rail_forwarding"], "Select a service type."),
     firstMileEnabled: z.boolean(),
     pickUpAddress: z.string(),
@@ -162,7 +161,7 @@ export const bookingFormSchema = z
     destinationYard: z.string(),
     cargoType: z.enum(["container", "bulk"], "Select a cargo type."),
     cargoWeight: z.string(),
-    freightType: z.enum(["bulk", "break_bulk", ""]).default(""),
+    freightType: z.enum(["bulk", "break_bulk"]),
     bulkCommodity: z.string(),
     bulkCommodityOther: z.string(),
     breakBulkType: z.string(),
@@ -188,14 +187,6 @@ export const bookingFormSchema = z
     termsAccepted: z.boolean(),
   })
   .superRefine((data, ctx) => {
-    if (data.contractType === "new" && !data.draftContractId.trim()) {
-      ctx.addIssue({
-        code: "custom",
-        path: ["draftContractId"],
-        message: "A draft contract ID is required.",
-      });
-    }
-
     if (data.contractType === "renewal" && !data.previousContractRef.trim()) {
       ctx.addIssue({
         code: "custom",
@@ -360,7 +351,6 @@ export type BookingFormValues = z.infer<typeof bookingFormSchema>;
 
 export const initialBookingFormValues: Partial<BookingFormValues> = {
   previousContractRef: "",
-  draftContractId: "",
   firstMileEnabled: false,
   pickUpAddress: "",
   lastMileEnabled: false,
@@ -383,7 +373,7 @@ export const initialBookingFormValues: Partial<BookingFormValues> = {
 };
 
 export const stepFields: Record<number, Array<keyof BookingFormValues>> = {
-  1: ["contractType", "previousContractRef", "draftContractId"],
+  1: ["contractType", "previousContractRef"],
   2: ["serviceType"],
   3: [
     "firstMileEnabled",
diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/new-booking-form/step1-contract-type.tsx b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/new-booking-form/step1-contract-type.tsx
index 1343bdb2e..e8e045e5c 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/new-booking-form/step1-contract-type.tsx
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/bookings/new-booking-form/step1-contract-type.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { Controller, type UseFormReturn } from "react-hook-form";
 import { FileText, Loader2, RefreshCw } from "lucide-react";
-import { Button, Field, FieldError, FieldLabel, Input } from "@edr/ui-common";
-import { type BookingFormValues, genContractId } from "./schema";
+import { Button, Field, FieldLabel, Input } from "@edr/ui-common";
+import { type BookingFormValues } from "./schema";
 import { AlertBox, OptionCard, OptionFieldError, StepHeader } from "./shared";
 
 type BookingForm = UseFormReturn<BookingFormValues>;
@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@ export function Step1ContractType({
   onValidate: () => void;
 }) {
   const contractType = form.watch("contractType");
-  const draftContractId = form.watch("draftContractId");
   const previousContractRef = form.watch("previousContractRef");
-  const errors = form.formState.errors;
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-6">
@@ -40,12 +38,6 @@ export function Step1ContractType({
                 onClick={() => {
                   field.onChange("new");
                   form.clearErrors(["contractType", "previousContractRef"]);
-                  if (!draftContractId) {
-                    form.setValue("draftContractId", genContractId(), {
-                      shouldDirty: true,
-                      shouldValidate: true,
-                    });
-                  }
                 }}
               >
                 <div className="mb-2 flex h-9 w-9 items-center justify-center rounded-lg bg-primary/10">
@@ -55,11 +47,6 @@ export function Step1ContractType({
                 <p className="mt-0.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
                   Blank contract form. A draft ID is auto-generated.
                 </p>
-                {field.value === "new" && draftContractId && (
-                  <p className="mt-2 font-mono text-xs font-semibold text-primary">
-                    {draftContractId}
-                  </p>
-                )}
               </OptionCard>
 
               <OptionCard
@@ -115,9 +102,6 @@ export function Step1ContractType({
                     )}
                   </Button>
                 </div>
-                <FieldError
-                  errors={[fieldState.error, errors.draftContractId]}
-                />
               </Field>
             )}
           />